On average, more than 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men in the US will experience rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner. 

1 in 10 high school students has experienced physical violence from a partner  www.thehotline.org 

A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds. www.childhelp.org 

One in 9 girls and 1 in 53 boys under the age of 18 experience sexual abuse or assault at the hands of an adult. www.rainn.org 

These sobering statistics are a stark reminder that abuse is not an unusual event. No family is immune. No belief system is exempt. There is no guaranteed method of ‘knowing’ if abuse is happening or not. 

BUT. There is hope! 

If you are in an abusive relationship, have experienced abuse, or are struggling to heal from past abuse: 

• You are not alone! 

• You are not to blame! 

• There is help! 

• Your story matters! 

Below are articles, hotlines, and book suggestions that provide hope and help. 

Everyone can be a source of change and help: 

• Become educated. 

• Acknowledge your biases and belief systems about abuse. 

• Choose to be a safe person. 

• Make resources available.